The big question in healthcare this week is what impact, if any, President Obama’s immigration proposal will have on the ACA. Will those immigrants benefit from the ACA if immigration reform is passed? And will they receive the same health coverage and benefits as the American people? It depends.

Currently, under the ACA, naturalized citizens and legal immigrants will have access to free or subsidized health coverage if have been living in the United States for more than five years. Those legal immigrants who have been residing in the country for five years or less with incomes below 400 percent of Federal Poverty Level also receive access to subsidized coverage.

However, unauthorized immigrants are not eligible to receive Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage, or subsidies. Also, they are not allowed to even purchase private coverage health insurance exchanges. Therefore, unauthorized immigrants are at risk of having no health coverage…